Bernardo Bellotto's Modernity at Gallerie d'Italia in Milan

The exhibition at Gallerie d'Italia in Milan showcases 100 works by Bernardo Bellotto (1721–1780) and his uncle Canaletto (1697–1768), highlighting Bellotto's modern, intellectual approach to landscape painting. The show is organized chronologically, starting with Bellotto as Canaletto's assistant in Venice, then following his travels to Florence, Milan, Lombardy, Turin, and Verona. A key section, 'Un cronista d'avanguardia,' emphasizes Bellotto's documentary intent, including war scenes. The exhibition also clarifies recent attributions, as some works long assigned to Canaletto are now recognized as Bellotto's. The separation between the two artists is marked by Canaletto's departure for London in 1746 and Bellotto's for Dresden in 1747. Bellotto's style is characterized by darker tones, strong drawing, and aleatory human figures, contrasting with Canaletto's luminous idealization. The display allows proper viewing distance and groups paintings to reinforce their impact.